The masjid is an iconic landmark dominating the urban skyline of Mindanao and townscapes of Muslim communities all over the country. Yet, its architectural beauty remains an enigma since they are rarely visited by non-Muslims, who constitute the majority of Filipinos. Veiled in mystery, the Philippine mosques are often misunderstood and undervalued which undermines their conservation as built heritage. Understanding the underlying significance of the mosque will lead to a greater admiration and better appreciation of its architecture that will create new stewards to ensure their preservation in the future. Some of the mosque featured in this book, particularly those in the Islamic City of Marawi, suffered much destruction during the 2017 siege of the city, yet as a symbol of hope and recovery for its people they were the first to rise from ruins of war. Rebuilding the mosque was not an erasure of traumatic memories but a gesture to celebrate the resilience of its people.

1. Mosque ? Philippine ? Marawi ? History. 2. Islamic architecture ? Philippines.